Rebecca McKanna has published short stories in anthologies and quarterlies. Something about one idea made her want to write a full novel. 'Don't Forget the Girl' is about Bree and Chelsea, trying to discover what really happened to their best friend Abby Hartmann. Her presumed murderer, the serial killer Jon Allan Blue, is about to be executed when a flurry of interest in the case makes them turn to a true-crime podcaster to tell Abby's story before it's too late.We discuss the balance of why people glamourise evil, and what serial killers are really like. Also, why she started writing short stories, what she's learned from being published, and how she researched enough to write fictional true-crime.You can hear how she managed to tell a good story while making a point about how we view serial killers, also why she starts writing calm and slow before feeling the story pull her in, and how she balances a day job teaching with writing on the side.Get 10% off the software Plottr, at go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over Tim Lott's 10 novels, he's won the Whitbread First Novel Award, been shortlisted for The Guardian Kids Book Award and the Costa Award. He's been published in 16 countries, works as a screenwriter, and has taught creative writing for over 10 years. He's got a brilliant Substack page, filled with tips and advice at timlott.substack.com.His new book is a writing guide, 'Yes! No! But Wait! - The One Thing You Need to Know to Write a Novel'. It takes you through much of the process in getting a book from your head towards publication.We talk about why it took him 10 years of coaching to actually write the book. Even with that, you can hear why he thinks much of writing is unteachable. Tim explains why plot is everything, the difference between screenwriters and novelists and why where he works bores him.It's almost your last chance to get 10% off Plottr at go.plottr.com/routineYou can support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corie Adjmi's debut novel, 'Life and Other Shortcomings' won a whole bunch of prizes, and has steamrollered her towards the new novel, 'The Marriage Box'.It's all about Casey Cohen, a 16 year old in New Orleans, and in the 70s, her parents decide to return to their roots and move to the orthodox Syrian jewish community in Brooklyn. In time, Casey meets Michael and marries him at 18 thinking she can adjust to his Syrian ways, but starts to question things when Michael says he doesn’t want her to go to college… but have a baby instead. The novel is based on a lot of Corie's own experience in that community. She started writing in her 30s, and had 5 children by the time she was 35. We talk about why she started writing short stories in the small snatches of time she could make her own. You can hear why she starts her day early amongst the bustle of Manhattan, also why she begins by writing by hand, and why she's designing her writing space towards creativity.Get 10% off the software Plottr, over at go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Wray is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Award, he was named as one of the Best Young American Novelists in 2007. He's just published his 6th novel, 'Gone to the Wolves'. It’s the story of high school outcasts, making their pilgrimage from their small town in Florida, to the famed Hollywood Strip, and off to Norway (enter blackened death metal). Along their vision quest, these teens experience mystery, loss and love, all in the name of music, littered with feelings that feel anything but fiction.We talk about why themes of punk run through his work, and why he's always keen to switch up the genre. You can hear why he writes to hide, how his view of his work changes through the drafts, and why his writing routine has changed since he was working almost homeless in a friends basement.For 10% off Plottr, head to go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.D. Kirk is a prolific writer. He's written comics and screenplays, under the name Barry Hutchison he's published over 170 children's books, and is back with a new crime novel, 'The One That Got Away'.It's the first in the DI Heather Filson series, about a 15 year old girl who doesn’t make it home so is suspected as another teenage runaway. However, when her grandfather, a notorious Glasgow gangster, disagrees, it takes Heather Filson into a battle of underworld enemies, and her own past.We talk about J.D's decision to self-publish. It certainly comes with more control and freedom, but what about the additional pressure of being responsible for everything when you need to make money for your family? We also run through his relentless writing schedule - he published over 100 books in about 5 years, and you can hear about the peculiar condition he suffers from, and why it makes some aspects of writing easier for him.Not long left to make the most of our Plottr deal. Get 10% off the fantastic software at go.plottr.com/routine.You can support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senta Rich is busy. She has the energy to keep up with everything. She has worked in philosophy, psychology, written radio plays, has a film and TV series in the works, and her new novel, 'Hotel 21' is out now.It tells the story of Noelle, a kleptomaniac hotel cleaner, and the stories she uncovers. We talk about why, when she had the idea on holiday, she had to drop everything and get it down immediately.You can hear why she still writes in notebooks, how she spreads energy and time between paid and unpaid projects, and about creative atmosphere she's fostered at home.We chat through how much her initial, strong character arc changed as she worked through the story, what questions she asks to unravel more of her tale, and there's a brilliant bonus Margaret Atwood tip in there too.Get 10% off Plottr with the link go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jude Yawson edits '14 Magazine', writes film and music reviews, and has co-authored 'Rise Up - The #Merky Story So Far' with Stormzy. It looks behind the scenes at Stormzy's life, the story of his team, and details everything that led to the release of 'Gang Signs and Prayer', Stormzy's debut album that sold millions of copies and won many awards.We talk about inspiration that comes from working with a team, how important it was to capture the truth of where they grew up and why it's vital to support creatives around you. You can hear why Dragonball Z taught Jude how to structure and plan stories, also why he's aiming to be the best black British writer ever, and about the strange places he likes to write in.This was recorded at the #Merky Literature Festival in The Roundhouse, Camden on 23rd April 2023.Get 10% off the software Plottr at go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Becky Hunter's debut novel is 'One Moment'. It looks at best friends Scarlet and Evie, incredibly close until a tragic accident changes everything. It talks about why just one moment makes a huge difference. It's already been sold across the world, and we talk about how this has finally happened. It took Becky a while to get published, and it was only when she stopped thinking about what was on trend and what might sell, that she found the space to write something personal that got her published.Becky works in the publishing industry, helping others sell their own book, we chat about how she feels now the shoe is on the other book. You can hear why lockdown gave her a very idyllic place to write, why a simple colour change really helps her day, how she dealt with rejection, and why a mix-up let to her plot.You can get 10% off the writing software Plottr, at go.plottr.com/writersroutine.Support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Weaver is a Sunday Times million copy bestseller, he's been nominated for a National Book Award, is a Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, and has been shortlisted for a CWA Dagger Award.He's just published his 12th David Raker book, 'The Blackbird'. It follows the story of Cate and Aidan Gascoigne, whose car plunges into a ravine, but the couple vanish. We talk about the challenges writing disappearing persons thrillers, how do you have new ideas about what's happening, and who might be next. We talk about why this is a whydunnit, rather than a whodunnit. His 13th Raker book, 'The Last Goodbye' is out later this year, and he's currently half way through another one. You can hear how he copes having so many plotlines in his head at the same time, and given he's right in the middle of writing... how he deals with the baggy middle.You can hear how much he knows about the plot, why he doesn't like to plot too much, and what happens when it all comes together. We get some details about book contracts too, the low-level anxiety he's currently feeling, and why every author always gives the worse advice possible.Get 10% off writing software Plottr, over at go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we chat to Danya Kukafka. Her first debut, 'Girl in the Snow', was released in 2017 and was extremely successful. It was a national bestseller, translated in many languages, and then the pressure came. The pressure of that difficult second book... how do you follow up on success?Danya started to write furiously, and along came 'Notes on an Execution'. It tells the story of Ansel Packer, who is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he's done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn't want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. Through a kaleidoscope of women--a mother, a sister, a homicide detective--we learn the story of Ansel's life.We talk about why her writing routine has changed since that book, how she's hopefully made it calmer and healthier. You can hear about her first idea for the story and how it was mostly the feeling of the plot rather than all the details that became clear. We chat through her process journal, how working in publishing helps her write, and why what she thinks will happen in the book rarely comes true.Get 10% of Plottr, at go.plottr.com/routineSupport the show at patreon.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.